Samuel Douek
Lockdown has been unique for all of us. Some of us binged TV, others took up knitting, while I spent days training my lockdown puppy to behave. Filmmaker and event organiser Samuel Douek used his downtime to launch a positively queer sexual wellness brand, Howl. Their first product, a CBD-infused anal lubricant, hit the digital shelves in December. CBD, or cannabidiol, is derived from the marijuana plant, but does not contain the illegal THC compound that gets you high. Here, Samuel gives us the lowdown on why we should be using CBD for our bedroom antics, the importance of breaking down sexual taboos and how he has learned to be his unashamed queer self in the workplace.
When did you decide to launch your lube brand?
It began as a queer techno and performing arts festival, which we hosted in August 2019. This was the birthchild of two other live projects that I’ve been running; one of them is BUM.P, which is a bi-monthly club night at the Dalston Superstore, and the other is CAMPerVAN, a travelling performance space in the shape of a caravan which we’ve toured around
